In 1941, Joe DiMaggio was undeniably the most popular sportsman in the United States, and was probably running second only to President Roosevelt as the most famous man in America. His 56-game hitting streak captivated people throughout the nation, who followed his progress each day on the radio, newsreels and newspapers. He was the hero of fellow Italian-Americans, many of whom overcame poverty and discrimination to—like DiMaggio—make their mark in society. "There was an aura about him," gushed New York Yankees teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Phil Rizzuto, "Kings of State wanted to meet him and be with him. He carried himself so well. He could fit in any place in the world."
A native son of Martinez, California, DiMaggio's Sicilian-born father was a fisherman back in Italy, and continued to do so in America. In 1937, Joe, along with baseball-playing brothers Dom and Vince, opened a restaurant in San Francisco's famous Fisherman's Wharf which they named Joe DiMaggio's Grotto. It was a family affair from the start—Joe's older brother Tom managed the eatery, and his father Giuseppe retired from fishing and became a cook in the kitchen. The elder DiMaggio enjoyed preparing meals for ballplayers who visited the Grotto during the offseason, often cooking up his favorite dish, cioppino. Offered here is a relic from the famed restaurant, a colorful 1941 Curteich Postcard graded Mint 9 by PSA, the one-and-only example in this grade, with none ranking higher. Featuring images from the building's exterior and interior, as well as a small artful rendering of the Yankee Clipper himself—batting, of course—this vintage postcard is truly an amazing specimen. Unlike most postcards of its era, which are perfectly rectangular with four corners, this card has extremely delicate crimped edges. How this gorgeous World War II-era artifact survived the decades in such immaculate condition is a small wonder. This delectable collectible is surely going to make one hungry hobbyist very happy, indeed. It is, like the great Joe DiMaggio, unsurpassed.